Ogonis call for dissolution of HYREP

06 January 2014, Port Harcourt -Ogonis have called on the Federal Government to dissolve the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Restoration Project, HYREP, in their area and set up what it termed ”a truly statutorily backed intervention agency to handle clean up of the environment,” in Ogoni communities.

Speaking at this year’s Ogoni Day, weekend, in Bori, National President of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, said that the delay on the part of the Federal Government to implement the United Nations Environmental Progremme, UNEP, report two years after it was released, should be seen by all as an act of genocide against the Ogoni people.

He said they would continue to embark on peaceful protests to draw attention of the government to implement the UNEP recommendations in the area.

He said: “The ongoing delay on the part of the government to implement the UNEP report will continue to be seen as an act of genocide being committed against the Ogoni people. Our series of non-violent actions will continue in the face of government’s failure to implement the recommendations of UNEP.”

He noted that the people would resist alleged move by Shell to sell off its oil concessions in the area and lamented the alleged collapse of health care services in Ogoni and charged government at all levels to take urgent steps to resolve the issue.

“While we appreciate the efforts of Rivers State Government in the provision of some primary health care facilities, we are alarmed by the complete collapse of secondary health care services in Ogoni. All general hospitals in Ogoni are presently in coma. Despite advances in health care in other parts of the country, there is not a single specialist or tertiary health care facility in Ogoni. We are calling on government at all levels to reverse this trend as soon as possible,” he said.